W. Somerset Maugham: Thing

W. Somerset Maugham was British playwright, novelist, short story writer. Explore interesting quotes on thing.

W. Somerset Maugham: 316 quotes19 likes

“The great critic … must be a philosopher, for from philosophy he will learn serenity, impartiality, and the transitoriness of human things.”

W. Somerset Maugham book The Summing Up

Source: The Summing Up (1938), p. 223

“There are men who are possessed by an urge so strong to do some particular thing that they can't help themselves, they've got to do it. They're prepared to sacrifice everything to satisfy their yearning.”

W. Somerset Maugham book The Razor's Edge

The Razor's Edge (1943)

“If forty million people say a foolish thing it does not become a wise one, but the wise man is foolish to give them the lie.”

W. Somerset Maugham

"1901", p. 76. Sometimes misquoted as "If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing". Sometimes misattributed to Bertrand Russell or Anatole France
A Writer's Notebook (1946)

“You know, there are two good things in life, freedom of thought and freedom of action.”

W. Somerset Maugham book Of Human Bondage

Source: Of Human Bondage (1915), Ch. 23

“It's no good trying to keep up old friendships. It's painful for both sides. The fact is, one grows out of people, and the only thing is to face it.”

W. Somerset Maugham

Source: Cakes and Ale: Or, The Skeleton in the Cupboard (1930), p. 14

“I daresay one profits more by the mistakes one makes off one's own bat than by doing the right thing on somebody's else advice.”

W. Somerset Maugham book Of Human Bondage

Source: Of Human Bondage (1915), Ch. 52